Windsor's New Urban R&D Centre

I happened to read the story below about Wayne State's Tech Town.

It would not surprise me to see a similar announcement being made soon by the Province, City of Windsor and the University of Windsor!

Instead of a downtown Engineering Building complex, we would see an R&D Tech Centre with the prime tenant being the University Engineering Building or maybe the University would run the whole thing! I would expect that the Province would muscle all kinds of companies to locate there if they want funding from the Government.

A pipe-dream...maybe, but do you recall from our own lady Minister:

• "The McGuinty Government is accepting proposals for the fourth round of its Advanced Manufacturing InvestmentStrategy (AMIS), Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sandra Pupatello announced today...
  
  The $500-million AMIS program provides repayable loans interest free, for up to five years, to support investments in technology and innovation. The innovative projects announced to date under this initiative will generate nearly $400 million in new investments and support the creation or retention of about 3,000 jobs."

One example was:

• "Successful projects to date include:
  
  Skyjack Inc., Guelph (May 14, 2007) - Creation of a Centre of Excellence to facilitate industrial research and development, prototyping, testing and commercialization of new aerial work platforms and materials handling equipment. A loan of $2.48 million supports a total project investment of $24.79 million."

In addition, the Premier announced, to encourage green automotive technologies

• "a new $650-million Next Generation Jobs Fund that will leverage investments in green technologies that help to reduce greenhousegas emissions and improve environmental sustainability."

No wonder Eddie is supporting Sandra's re-election! And it's a good thing that the University is following Ed Lumley's "Think Really Big" strategy isn't it!

Perhaps Amanda Gellman's fund-raising job won't be so tough after all. And the Gazelle feeders might actually accomplish something.

Next stop, Tech Town

Tech Town, housed in renovated warehouses just north of Wayne State’s campus, is home to startups and established companies in life sciences, information technology, advanced engineering and advanced manufacturing. One company is into video-game creation. Another is a “bank” for human tissue samples for medical research.

Wayne State University launched Tech Town in April 2004 with General Motors Corp., Henry Ford Health System, the city of Detroit, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and other state departments in the 12-block area between Wayne State University and the former GM headquarters.

Companies in area include Asterand, NextEnergy, Henry Ford Health and a Delphi Corp. spinout, SpaceForm. Economic development in the area exceeds $90 million.

Wayne State’s big plans

Wayne State University’s campus welcomed more than $170 million in projects since 2000. Among the highlights: a new $64 million home for the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; three new residence halls; an $18.5 million welcome center and a $6 million university bookstore operated by Barnes & Noble; an addition to the law school; and a new recreation and fitness center. The newest $55 million residence hall, dubbed “The Towers,” just opened this year. Its tallest wing is 11 stories high, and it houses more than 900 students. Long a “commuter” school, WSU now sees a surge in interest in living on campus.